KCCA battles 122 cases, faces sh35b loss

Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) is battling in court with over 122 cases relating to land and business contracts fi led by aggrieved individuals and companies.

The companies and individuals are seeking compensation amounting to over sh35b. Most of the cases were inherited by the KCCA from the defunct Kampala City Council (KCC).

Over half the cases that were fi led between 1997 and 2011 relate to land and tenancy disputes, according to documents seen by New Vision.

In some of the cases, KCCA was jointly sued with the embattled Kampala District Land Board (KDLB).

A group of traders led by J.B. Kivumbi and six others sued on behalf of the over 10,000 traders operating in St. Balikuddembe (Owino) Market, seeking sh14.2b from KCCA for the lease of the market.

The group argues that they collected money to acquire a lease of St. Balikuddembe Market’s land but was denied the lease. The traders argue that they had so far collected sh2b of the sh4.2b that was required of them for the lease.

KCCA spokesperson Peter Kaujju defended the authority, saying it never issued the lease to the traders because of the leadership wrangles in the market. However, KDLB chairman Yusuf Nsibambi said they later granted the lease to the traders.

Commenting on the cases, the KCCA executive director, Jennifer Musisi, said a lot of money was needed to clear the backlog of cases KCCA inherited from KCC. “We inherited many cases from KampalaCity Council which we are going to handle and we are going to meet the expenses incurred,” Musisi told councillors recently.

Source: New Vision.